Congress    of    tlic    Pro-visional    Go^vernment. 


CONSTITUTION 


OF    THE 


PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT 


OF     THE 


CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


8th  February,  1861. 
Read  first,  second  and  tliird  times  and  engrossed ;  and  unani- 
mously adopted.     1000  copies  ordered  to  be  printed. 

IIowELL  Conn, 
J.  J.  HooPEE,  Secretary.  President  of  Congress. 


MONTGOMERY,  ALA.: 

SnOKTEB  &  REID,  PRINTERS,  ADVERTISER   OFFICE. 

1801. 


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i 


CONSTITUTION 

FOR  THE 

PROVISIONAL   GOVERNMENT 

OF  THE 

CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


We,  the  Deputies  of  the  Sovereign  and  Independent 
States  of  South  Carolina,  v^leorgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Mis- 
sissippi, and  Louisiana,  invoking  the  favor  of  Alniiglity 
God,  do  hereb}',  in  behalf  of  these  States,  ordain  and 
establish  this  Constitution  for  the  Provisional  Government 
of  the  same:  to  continue  one  j'ear  from  the  inauguration 
of  the  President,  or  until  a  permanent  Constitution  or 
Confederation  between  the  said  States  shall  be  put  in 
operation,  whichsoever  shall  first  occur. 

ARTICLE  L 

SECTION  1. 
All  legislative  powers  herein  delegated  shall  be  vested 
in  this  Congress  now  assembled,  until  otherwise  ordained. 

SECTION  2. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  from 
any  State,  the  same  shall  be  filled  in  such  manner  as  the 
proper  authorities  of  the  State  shall  direct. 

SECTION  3. 

1.  The  Congress  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  elections, 
returns  and  qualifications  of  its  members;  any  nuinl)or 


of  Deputies  from  u  niajority  of  the  States,  being  present, 
shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  do  business;  but  a  smaller 
number  may  adjcjurn  from  day  to  clay,  and  may  be 
autliorized  to  compel  the  attendance  of  absent  members; 
upon  all  questions  before  the  Congress,  each  State  shall 
be  entitled  to  one  vote,  and  shall  be  represented  by  any 
one  or  more  of  its  Deputies  who  may  be  present. 

2.  The  Congress  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  pro- 
ceedings, punish  its  members  for  disorderly  behavior, 
and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds,  expel  a  member. 

3.  The  Congress  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceed- 
ings, and  from  time  to  time  publish  the  same,  excepting 
such  parts  as  may  in  their  judgment  require  secrecy; 
and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  members  on  any  question, 
shall,  at  the  desire  of  one-fifth  of  those  present,  or  at  the 
instance  of  any  one  State,  be  entered  on  the  journal. 

SECTION  4, 
The  members  of  Congress  shall  receive  a  compensation 
for  their  services,  to  be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out 
of  the  treasurj^  of  the  Confederacy.  They  shall  in  all 
cases,  except  treason,  felony  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be 
privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at  the 
session  of  the  Congress,  and  in  going  to  and  returning 
from  the  same;  and  for  any  speech  or  debate,  they  shall 
not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place. 

SECTION  5. 
1.  Every  bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  Congress, 
shall,  before  it  become  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Confederacy;  if  he  ajiprove,  he  shall  sign  it; 
but  if  not,  he  shall  return  it  with  his  objections,  to  the 
Congress,  who  shall  enter  the  objections  at  large  on  their 
journal,  and  proceed  to  re-consider  it.  If,  after  such 
re-consideration,  two-thirds  of  the  Congress  shall  agree 
to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  become  a  law.  But  in  all  such 
cases,  the  vote  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays;  and  ; 
the  names  of  the  persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill 
shall  be  entered  on  the  journal.     If  any  bill  shall  not  be 


returned  by  tlie  President  within  ten  days  (Sundays 
excepted)  after  it  shall  liave  been  presented  to  him,  the 
sanie  shall  be  a  law,  in  like  manner  as  it"  he  had  signed 
it,  unless  the  Congress,  by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its 
return,  in  which  ease  it  shall  not  be  a  law.  The  President 
may  veto  any  appropriation  or  appropriations  and  ap- 
prove any  other  appropriation  or  appropriations,  in  the 
same  bill. 

2.  Every  order,  resolution  or  vote,  intended  to  have  the 
force  and  eliect  of  a  law,  shall  be  presented  to  the  Presi- 
dent, and  before  the  same  shall  take  effect,  shall  be 
approved  by  him,  or  being  disap^iroved  by  him,  shall  be 
re-passed  by  two-thirds  of  the  Congress,  according  to  the 
rules  and  limitations  proscribed  in  the  case  of  a  bill. 

3.  Until  the  inauguration  of  the  President,  all  bills, 
orders,  resolutions  and  votes  adopted  by  the  Congress 
shall  be  of  full  force  without  approval  by  him. 

SECTION  (). 

1.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  lay  and  collect 
taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises,  for  the  revenue  neces- 
sary to  pa}'  the  debts  and  carry  on  the  Government  of 
the  Confederacy  ;  and  all  duties,  imposts  and  excises  shall 
be  uniform  throughout  the  States  of  the  Confederacy. 
And  this  Congress  shall  also  exercise  executive  powers, 
until  the  President  is  inaugurated  : 

2.  To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  Confederacy: 

3.  To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  and 
among  the  several  States,  and  with  the  Indian  tribes : 

4.  To  establish  a  uniform  rule  of  naturalization, 
and  uniform  laws  on  the  subject  of  bankruptcies  through- 
out the  Confederacy^ : 

5.  To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof  and  of 
foreign  coin,  and  fix  the  standard  of  weights  and 
measures: 

0.  To   provide  for  the   punishment  of  counterfeiting 
the  securities  and  current  coin  of  the  Confederacy  : 
7.  To  establish  post  ofHces  and  post  roads : 


G 

8.  To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful  arts, 
bj'  securing,  for  limited  times,  to  authors  and  inventors, 
the  exclusive  right  to  their  respective  writings  niid 
discoveries  : 

9.  To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  supreme 
court : 

10.  To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  commit- 
ted on  the  high  seas,  and  oiienses  against  the  law  of 
nations : 

11.  To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and 
reprisal,  and  make  rules  concerning  captures  on  land  and 
water : 

12.  To  raise  and  support  armies;  but  no  appropriation 
of  money  to  that  use  shall  be  for  a  longer  term  than  two 
years : 

13.  To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy: 

14.  To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regulation 
of  the  land  and  naval  forces: 

15.  To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute 
the  laws  of  the  Confederacy,  suppress  insurrections,  and 
repel  invasions : 

16.  To  provide  for  organizing,  armirg,  and  disciplining 
the  militia,  and  for  governing  such  part  of  them  as  may 
be  employed  in  the  service  of  the  Confederacy,  reserving 
to  the  States  respectively  the  appointment  of  the  officers, 
and  the  authority  of  training  the  militia  according  to  the 
discipline  prescribed  by  Congress:  and 

17.  To  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and 
proper  for  carrying  into  execution  the  foregoing  powers 
and  all  other  powers  expressly  delegated  by  this  Consti- 
tution to  this  Provisional  Government. 

SECTION  7. 

1.  The  importation  of  African  negroes  from  any  for- 
eign country  other  than  the  slave-holding  States  of  the 
United  States,  is  hereby  forbidden  ;  and  Congress  is  re- 
quired to  pass  such  laws  as  shall  effectually  prevent  the 
same. 


2.  The  Congress  shall  also  have  power  to  prohibit  the 
introduction  of  slaves  from  any  State  not  a  member  of 
this  Confederacy. 

3.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  shall 
not  be  suspended  unless,  when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or 
invasion,  the  public  safety  may  require  it. 

4.  No  Bill  of  Attainder,  or  ex  post  facto  law,  shall  be 
passed. 

5.  ISTo  preference  shall  be  given,  by  any  regulation  of 
commerce  or  revenue,  to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  those 
of  another:  nor  shall  vessels  bound  to  or  from  one  State 
be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay  duties,  in  another. 

G.  ^o  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury,  but 
in  consequence  of  appropriations  made  bylaw;  and  a 
regular  statement  and  account  of  the  receipts  and  expen- 
ditures of  all  public  money  shall  be  published  from  time 
to  time. 

7.  Congress  shall  appropriate  no  money  from  the  trea- 
surj',  unless  it  be  asked  for  by  the  President  or  some  one 
of  the  heads  of  Departments,  except  for  the  purpose  of 
paying  its  own  expenses  and  contingencies. 

8.  No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  Con- 
federacy ;  and  no  person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or 
trust  under  it,  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress, 
accept  of  any  present,  emolument,  office,  or  title  of  any 
kind,  whatever,  from  an}-  king,  prince,  or  foreign    State. 

9.  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  establish- 
ment of  religion  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof: 
or  abridging  the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press ;  or  the 
right  of  the  people  peaceably  to  assemble,  and  to  petition 
the  government  for  a  redress  of  such  grievances  as  the 
delegated  powers  of  this  Government  may  warrant  it  to 
consider  and  redress. 

10.  A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the 
security  of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep 
and  bear  arms  shall  not  be  infringed. 

11.  No  soldier  shall,  in  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in 


any  house  without  the  consent  of  the  owner;  nor  in  time 
of  war,  but  in  a  manner  to  be  prescribed  by  law. 

12.  The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  per- 
sonsj  houses,  papers,  and  effects,  against  unreasonable 
searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  violated;  and  no  war- 
rants shall  issue  but  upon  probable  cause,  supported  by 
oath  or  affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  place 
to  be  searched,  and  the  persons  or  things  to  be  seized. 

13.  No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  or 
otherwise  infiiraous  crime,  unless  on  a  presentment  or 
indictment  of  a  grand  jury,  except  in  cases  arising  in  the 
land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia,  when  in  actual  ser- 
vice in  time  of  war  or  public  danger;  nor  shall  any  per- 
son be  subject  for  the  same  offence  to  be  twice  put  in  jeo- 
pardy of  life  or  limb ;  nor  shall  be  compelled,  in  any 
criminal  case,  to  be  a  witness  against  himself;  nor  be  de- 
prived of  life,  liberty,  or  property,  without  due  process  of 
law ;  nor  shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use, 
without  just  compensation. 

14.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  en- 
joy the  right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  impartial 
jury  of  the  State  and  district  wherein  the  crime  shall 
have  been  committed,  which  district  shall  have  been  pre- 
viously ascertained  by  law,  and  to  be  informed  of  the 
nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation  ;  to  be  confronted  with 
the  witnesses  against  him ;  to  have  compulsory  process 
for  obtaining  witnesses  in  his  ftivor;  and  to  have  the  as- 
sistance of  counsel  for  his  defence. 

15.  In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  con- 
troversy shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right  of  trial  by 
jury  shall  be  preserved;  and  no  fact  tried  by  a  jury  shall 
be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any  court  of  the  Confedera- 
cy, than  according  to  the  rules  of  the  common  law. 

16.  Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive 
lines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  in- 
flicted. ^ 

17.  The  enumeration,  in   the  Constitution,  of  certain 


9 

riglits,  shall  not  be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others 
retained  b}-  the  people. 

18.  The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  Confederacy  by 
the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are 
reserved  to  the  States  respectively,  or  to  the  people. 

19.  The  judicial  power  of  the  Confederacy  shall  not 
be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity,  com- 
menced or  prosecuted  against  one  ot  the  States  ot  the 
Confederac}^  by  citizens  of  another  State,  or  by  citizens 
or  subjects  of  any  foreign  State. 

SECTION  8. 

1.  ITo  State  shall  enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or 
confederation;  grant  letters  of  marque  and  reprisal;  coin 
money;  emit  bills  of  credit ;  make  any  thing  but  gold 
and  silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of  debts;  pass  any 
bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the 
obligation  of  contracts;  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

2.  '^o  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress, 
lay  any  imposts  or  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except 
what  may  be  absolutely  necessary  for  executing  its  inspec- 
tion laws ;  and  the  nett  produce  of  all  duties  and  imposts, 
laid  hy  any  State  on  imports  or  exports,  shall  be  for  the 
use  of  the  treasury  of  the  Confederac}-,  and  all  such  laws 
shall  be  subject  to  the  revision  and  control  of  the  Con- 
gress. No  State,  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress, 
lay  any  duty  of  tonnage,  enter  into  any  agreement  or 
compact  with  another  State,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or 
engage  in  war,  unless  actuall}^  invaded,  or  in  such  immi- 
nent danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 

ARTICLE   II. 

SECTION  1, 

1.  The  Executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of 
the  Confederate  States  of  America.  He,  together  with 
the  Vice  President,  shall  hold  his  office  for  one  year,  or 
until  this  Provisional  Government  shall  be  superseded  by 
a  Permanent  Government,  whichsoever  shall  first  occur. 


10 

2.  The  President  and  Vice  President  shall  be  elected 
by  ballot  b}^  the  States  represented  in  this  Congress,  eaeli 
State  casting  one  vote,  and  a  majority' of  the  whole  being 
requisite  to  elect. 

3.  No  person  except  a  natural  born  citizen,  or  a  citizen 
of  one  of  the  States  of  this  Confederacy  at  the  time  of 
the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible  to  the 
office  of  President;  neither  shall  any  person  be  eligible  to 
that  office  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  thirty- 
five  yeavA  and  been  fourteen  3'ears  a  resident  of  one  of 
the  States  of  this  Confederac}-. 

4.  In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office, 
or  of  his  death,  resignation,  or  inability  to  discharge  the 
powers  and  duties  of  the  said  office,  (which  inability  siiall 
be  determined  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  Congress,) 
the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice  President;  and  the 
Congress  may  by  law  provide  for  the  case  of  removal, 
death,  resignation,  or  inabilit}^,  both  of  the  President  and 
Vice  President,  declaring  what  officer  shall  then  act  as 
President;  and  such  officer  shall  act  accordingly,  until 
the  disability  be  removed  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

5.  The  President  shall  at  stated  times  receive  for  bis 
services,  during  the  period  of  the  Provisional  Govern- 
ment, a  compensation  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  per  annum;  and  he  shall  not  receive  during  that 
period  any  other  emolument  from  this  Confederacy,  or 
any  of  the  States  thereof. 

6.  Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office,  he 
shall  take  the  following  oath  or  affirmation  : 

I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully 
execute  the  office  of  President  of  the  Confederate  States 
of  America,  and  w^ill,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  preserve, 
protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  thereof. 

SECTION  2. 

1.  The  President  shall  be  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  of  the  Confederacy,  and  of  the  Militia  of 
the  several  States,  when  called  into  the  actual  service  of 


11 

the  Confederacy;  he  may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing, 
of  the  principal  officer  in  each  of  the  Executive  Depart- 
ments, upon  any  subject  rchxting  to  the  duties  of  their 
respective  offices ;  and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  re- 
prieves and  pardons  for  offences  against  the  Confederacy, 
except  in  cases  of  impeachment. 

2.  He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Congress,  to  make  treaties  ;  provided  two- 
thirds  of  the  Congress  concur:  and  he  shall  nominate, 
and  by  and  wnth  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Congress 
shall  appoint  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers  and 
consuls,  judges  of  the  court,  and  all  other  officers  of  the 
Confederacy  whose  appointments  are  not  herein  other- 
wise provided  for,  and  which  shall  be  established  by  law. 
But  the  Congress  may,  by  law,  vest  the  appointment  of 
such  inferior  officers  as  they  think  proper  in  the  Presi- 
dent alone,  in  the  courts  of  law,  or  in  the  heads  of  de- 
partments. 

3,  The  President  shall  have  power  to  fillup  all  vacan- 
cies that  may  happen  during  the  recess  of  the  Congress, 
by  granting  commissions  which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of 
their  next  session. 

SECTION  3. 
1.  He  shall,  from  time  to  time,  give  to  the  Congress 
information  of  the  state  of  the  Confederacy,  and  recom- 
mend to  their  consideration  such  measures  as  he  shall 
judge  necessary  and  expedient;  he  may,  on  extraordinary 
occasions,  convene  the  Congress  at  such  time  as  he  shall 
think  proper;  he  shall  receive  ambassadors  and  other 
public  ministers;  he  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  bo 
faithfully  executed;  and  shall  commission  all  the  officers 
of  the  Confederacy. 

2.  The  President,  Vice  President,  and  all  civil  officers 
of  the  Confederacy  shall  be  removed  from  office  on  con- 
viction by  the  Congress  of  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high 
crimes  and  misdemeanors :  a  vole  of  two-thirds  shall  be 
necessary  for  such  conviction. 


12 

» 

AKTICLE  III. 

SECTION  1. 

1.  The  judicial  power  of  the  Confederacy  shall  be 
vested  in  one  Supreme  Court,  and  in  such  inferior  courts 
as  are  herein  directed  or  as  the  Congress  may  from  time 
to  time  ordain  and  establish. 

2.  Each  State  shall  constitute  a  District  in  which  there 
shall  be  a  court  called  a  District  Court,  which,  until  other- 
wise provided  b}' the  Congress,  shall  have  the  jurisdiction 
vested  l\y  the  laws  of  the  United  States,  as  far  as  applica- 
ble, in  both  the  District  and  Circuit  Courts  of  the  United 
States,  for  that  State ;  the  Judge  whereof  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  President,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Congress,  and  shall,  until  otherwise  pro- 
vided by  the  Congress,  exercise  the  power  and  authority 
vested  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States  in  the  Judges  of 
the  District  and  Circuit  Courts  of  the  United  States,  for 
that  State,  and  shall  appoint  the  times  and  places  at 
which  the  courts  shall  be  held.  Appeals  may  be  taken 
directl}'  from  the  District  Courts  to  the  Supreme  Court, 
under  similar  regulations  to  those  which  are  provided  in 
cases  of  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  or  under  such  other  regulations  as  may  be  pro- 
vided by  the  Congress.  The  commissions  of  all  the 
judges  shall  expire  with  this  Provisional  Government. 

3.  The  Supreme  Court  shall  be  constituted  of  all  the 
District  Judges,  a  majority  of  whom  shall  be  a  quorum, 
and  shall  sit  at  such  times  and  places  as  the  Congress 
shall  appoint. 

4.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  make  laws  for  the 
transfer  of  any  causes  which  were  pending  in  the  courts 
of  the  United|States,  to  the  courts  of  the  Confederacy,  and 
for  the  execution  of  the  orders,  decrees,  and  judgments 
heretofore  rendered  by  the  said  courts  of  the  United 
States;  and  also  all  laws  which  may  be  requisite  to  i')ro- 
tect  the  parties  to  all  such  suits,  orders,  judgments,  or 
decrees,  their  heirs,  personal  representatives,  or  assignees. 


13 

SECTION  2. 

The  judicial  power  sliall  extend  to  all  cases  of  law  and 
equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  and  of  this  Confederacy,  and  treaties  made, 
or  which  shall  be  made,  under  its  authority;  to  all  cases 
affecting  ambassadors,  other  public  ministers  and  con- 
suls ;  to  all  cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction  ; 
to  controversies  to  which  the  Confederacy  shall  be  a  par- 
ty;  controversies  between  two  or  more  States  ;  between 
citizens  of  different  States;  between  citizens  of  the 
same  State  claiming  lands  under  grants  of  different 
States. 

2.  Ln  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public 
ministers  and  consuls,  and  those  in  which  a  State  shall  be 
a  party,  the  supreme  court  shall  have  original  jurisdiction. 
In  all  the  other  cases  before  mentioned,  the  supreme 
court  shall  have  appellate  jurisdiction,  both  as  to  law  and 
fact,  Avith  such  exceptions  and  under  such  regulations  as 
the  Congress  shall  make. 

3.  The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  cases  of  impeach- 
ment, shall  be  by  jury,  and  such  trial  shall  beheld  in  the 
State  where  the  said  crimes  shall  have  been  committed  ; 
but  when  not  committed  within  any  State,  the  trial  shall 
be  at  such  place  or  places  as  the  Congress  may  by  law 
have  directed. 

SECTION  3, 

1.  Treason  against  this  Confederacy  shall  consist  only 
in  levying  war  against  it,  or  in  adhering  to  its  enemies, 
giving  them  aid  and  comfort.  No  person  shall  be  con- 
victed of  treason  unless  on  the  testimony  of  two  witnes- 
ses to  the  same  overt  act,  or  on  confession  in  open  court. 

2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  declare  the  pun- 
ishment of  treason;  but  no  attainder  of  treason  shall 
work  corruption  of  blood,  or  forfeiture,  except  during  the 
life  of  the  person  attainted. 


14 

ARTICLE  IV. 

SECTION  1. 

1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State 
to  the  public  acts,  records,  and  judicial  proceedings  of 
every  other  State.  And  the  Congress  may,  by  general 
laws,  prescribe  the  manner  in  which  such  acts,  records, 
and  proceedings  shall  be  proved  and  the  effect  of  sucli 
proof. 

SECTION  2. 

1.  The  citizens  of  each  Stsite  shall  be  entitled  to  all 
privileges  and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States. 

2.  A  person  charged  in  any  State  with  treason,  felony, 
or  other  crime,  who  shall  flee  from  justice,  and  be  found 
in  another  State,  shall,  on  demand  of  the  executive  au- 
thority of  the  State  from  which  he  fled,  be  delivered  up, 
to  be  removed  to  the  State  having  jurisdiction  of  the 
crime. 

8.  A  slave  in  one  State,  escaping  to  another,  shall  be 
delivered  up  on  claim  of  the  party  to  whom  said  slave 
may  belong  by  the  executive  authority  of  the  State  in 
which  such  slave  shall  be  found,  and  in  case  of  any 
abduction  or  forcible  rescue,  full  compensation,  including 
the  value  of  the  slave  and  all  costs  and  expenses,  shall 
be  made  to  the  party,  by  the  State  in  which  such  abduc- 
tion or  rescue  shall  take  place. 

SECTION  3. 

1.  The  Confederacy  shall  guaranty  to  every  State  in 
this  union,  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  shall 
protect  each  of  them  against  invasion  ;  and,  on  applica- 
tion of  the  legislature,  or  of  the  executive,  (when  the 
legislature  cannot  be  convened,)  against  domestic  vio- 
lence. 

ARTICLE  V. 

1.  The  Congress,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds,  may,  at  any 
time,  alter  or  amend  this  Constitution. 


15 

ARTICLE  VL 

1.  This  Constitution,  and  tlie  laws  of  the  Confederacy 
which  shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties 
made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  the  authority  of  the 
Confederacy,  shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land;  and 
the  judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  any 
thing  in  the  Constitution  or  laws  of  any  State  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

2.  The  Government  hereby  instituted  shall  take  imme- 
diate steps  lor  the  settlement  of  all  matters  between  the 
States  forming  it,  and  their  other  late  confederates  of  the 
United  States  in  relation  to  the  public  property  and 
public  debt  at  the  time  of  their  withdrawal  from  them; 
these  States  hereby  declaring  it  to  be  their  wish  and 
earnest  desire  to  adjust  everything  pertaining  to  the  com- 
mon property,  common  liability,  and  common  obligations 
of  that  union,  upon  the  principles  of  right,  justice,  equity, 
and  good  faith. 

8.  Until  otherwise  provided  by  the  Congress,  the  city 
of  Montgomery,  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  shall  be  the 
seat  of  Government. 

4.  The  members  of  the  Congress  and  all  executive 
and  judicial  officers  of  the  Confederacy  shall  be  bound 
by  oath  or  affirmation  to  support  this  Constitution  ;  but 
no  religious  test  shall  be  required  as  a  qualification  to  any 
office  or  public  trust  under  this  Confederacy. 

5.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  admit  other 
States. 


